Reflections on a first medical mission

-Approximately how many patients were served by your team?

-580 patients were seen in the clinic over the course of 5 days.

-What I enjoyed the most:

         -How a team of professionals could come together to serve so many people in such a short amount of time – very fulfilling.

        

-How humbling the experience was, giving me a new level of appreciation for the simple and important things in my life

        

-Learning of the vast cultural differences, but also seeing how we aren’t so different in many ways.

         -Brushing up on my Spanish!

        

-The feeling of fulfillment I had knowing we helped so many people, while also learning and growing so much myself.

-What I enjoyed the least:

         -It was hard to see the extent to which some patients’ conditions had progressed without getting adequate treatment.  It was also difficult to try to manage patients the best we could within cost- and resource-constraints, while thinking of all the labs, tests, meds, follow-up, and therapies that we might treat the same patient with in the U.S.

-What cultural differences I observed:

         -The medical culture is generally quite paternalistic.  Patients are told very little about their diagnoses and treatments are often inappropriate or poorly explained to the patients and families.

        

-Women’s roles within society and family are more rigid, and this can impact their health: for example, they have quite a different culture surrounding birth, including who should be present/assisting and how they assist.  They also most commonly work in the home.

        

-Some of the folk remedies were interesting, for example, one patient mentioned that one relieving factor for his musculoskeletal pain was putting lemon juice on his head.

-One to three examples of “memorable moments”:

1.  My most memorable group of patients were 4 generations of women/girls of the same family.  One day I saw a young mother and her 3-year-old daughter.  The mother had been having occasional seizures for several years, and had never been told what was going on!  The next day I saw the “next two generations up.” I noticed a familial pattern of migraines and neuro issues.  The family sticks in my memory because they were so endearing, and also because even though I couldn’t do as much as I wanted for their more complex issues, they were incredibly grateful (as were all the patients I saw!) for the migraine meds and other therapies that I provided.

2. Watching the sunrise from the roof of the clinic before having breakfast and starting our day, hearing

the roosters crowing (and a turkey joining in, too!), and taking that moment to reflect.  It was a quiet, peaceful moment I had just to myself, before the busy-ness of the day set in.  From up there, you can also see all the patients lined up waiting to be seen that day and it really gives you quite a sense of purpose.

-What impact the medical mission will have on your nursing career:

         -This was my first medical mission, and I have a feeling it won’t be my last!  Here at home, I’ve already benefitted from a renewed perspective and passion for nursing.  Next to that “warm fuzzy feeling” you get from helping those with limited access to care, the biggest takeaway, as an NP student, was the confidence I gained in seeing large volumes of patients with limited resources.  In the Guatemala clinic, I couldn’t always make referrals I might have here, or rely on X-rays and other diagnostic tests to help me make certain decisions; instead, it was back to the basics with my history taking and physical assessment skills.  Furthermore, we had a limited formulary to work with, so it meant working with what we had and being flexible.  It’s amazing how much more confidence I have as a practitioner after working with such clinical challenges.

--Nora Maynard

It's not about the numbers

Once again, it was a very rewarding trip to the tiny town of San Raymundo, Guatemala.  Having been there last year, I pretty much new what to expect; long days, tired feet, less then ideal working conditions, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of some Guatemalans.  Our group of 43 nurses, NP’s, Dr’s, and helpers was less then what we had last year but we all expected to work just as hard.  As you can see in the first picture, “it wasn’t about the numbers” but they showed just how much we accomplished in such a short time. 43 surgeries were performed (orthopedic, GU, GI, and GYN), 580 patients were seen in the clinic, 1,444 medications were given out, 227 labs were performed, and 11 minor surgeries (mostly debreeding wounds) were performed. 

I worked in both the pre-op and the post-op areas on this trip.  Pre-op consisted of getting a brief medical history from the patient, getting an IV started, and answering any questions I could about the procedure.  I was also able to help intubate a couple of patients prior to their procedure.  Post-op consisted of making sure surgical sites were

clean and dry, the patient was kept comfortable and free of pain, and that they understood how to take care of themselves when they went home.  This of course was an excellent opportunity to teach good nutrition and the importance of cleanliness.  The biggest obstacle to overcome was the language barrier.  Although I speak a little spanish and some of the citizens understood a little english, the translators that accompanied us on the trip were invaluable.  Because of them, I knew my patients would be able to take care of their wounds and understood our discussions.  

Most memorable moments for me were helping a 77 year old hip surgery patient walk,  intubating a patient before surgery, and meeting some wonderful people from all over the country who, like me, believe in helping out their fellow man.

This mission has made me appreciate the benefits we have living in the USA.  From our hospitals to the latest technology and equipment, we have the best at out fingertips.  Working in a third-world country and seeing what they have is an eye opener.  That being said, I hope to continue to be a part of the Refuge International Team and travel with them each year to help the people of Guatemala. 

Susan Callen

Tanya tells about surgical mission to Guatemala

In the five days that we actually treated patients our clinic team saw 1038 patients. Our team completed 206 surgeries in that same five days, including OB/GYN, ophthalmology, plastic and general laparoscopic surgeries. A lot of gallbladder removals, hernia repairs, hysterectomies, mass removals and some cleft lip/palate repairs were done. The eye team repaired a lot of cataracts, pterygiums and patients that were cross-eyed. Our outreach group saw 327 patients and our stove team installed stoves in over 100 homes. Each home received an indoor stove, an outdoor stove and a water filtration system.

There were so many things that I enjoyed on the trip, it is hard to put into words. I loved the people I met, the friendships I made and the patients I was fortunate enough to take care of. I especially enjoyed taking care of the children. Living in an area where medical care is far and few between, it seemed the children were even more apprehensive than typical, which made it all the more rewarding when they would warm up to you.

Having to say goodbye to all my new friends was the hardest part of the trip. Sure, the bathrooms weren’t five-star and the spiders came in extra-large sizes, but I knew about all that before going into the trip. What I didn’t foresee was the relationships I would build in such a short amount of time. The people I got to work with on the mission were one-of-a-kind. All there to help others, all there on their own accord; I feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to work with them for a week.

The people of Guatemala were extremely gracious. Every single patient (and their family), that left after a surgery, whether I took care of them directly or not, would give me a hug, a kiss, tell me thank you and God bless you. The amount of gratitude they had was overwhelming and it has made me crave going back.

They all appeared to have very close-knit families. Every patient seemed to have at least one or two support people with them-even the ones who had traveled four or five hours for the care. No one complained that there weren’t enough beds for the family members to stay in-they stayed in chairs, on the floor and shared beds with each other.

There were so many wild dogs. I was told that most of the people of Guatemala view dogs as a burden and it’s rare to have one as a pet. I guess because I was naïve to this, it came as a shock to see so many roaming dogs, semi-friendly but not tame necessarily.

Jello after surgery.

One morning, I was able to observe a bilateral cleft lip repair surgery on a two year old. It was interesting to actually see the process of this common procedure (instead of just the end result as a recovery nurse). I had seen the two year old boy the day before preoperatively, and obviously during surgery, but the best part was seeing him very shortly after his surgery. I was working in the recovery room and got to see him shoveling down jello, pushing his mom away in a, “I can do this on my own” way. Crying and whining for more jello. It was a moment I will never forget—the way the mom was tearing up watching him eat—without a cleft lip, and him without a care in the world that he had just had surgery.

Singing Happy Birthday to a patient.

Every evening a few of our co-workers who brought down their guitars would lead us in hymns that we would sing in the recovery wing of the hospital. Patients and their family members would occasionally join, and a lot of the songs we would sing first in English and then in Spanish. The first night they did this it gave me chills, and on the last night (when we only had four patients left spending the night), it made me laugh and cry. We transitioned from hymns to campfire songs and I felt as giddy as a school child at summer camp. We sung for hours into the late night, different people stopping by to join in or request a song. Here, I was once again amazed at how quickly I had become so close to the people I was working with.

One evening when I was on shift and the group had gathered around to sing to the recovery patients I was given the sweetest gesture by a seven year old patient. After I had finished rounding on patients I came to the group to sing along. This polite, small, seven year old boy, who I had gotten to know well over the last two days as he was recovering from his surgery, got up without hesitation and offered up his stool to me. Without any words, he stood up and patted the top of the stool for me to sit down. Not knowing Spanish very well, I got it across to him that I would not take his chair from him. He insisted and then ran off, quickly returning with a second stool that he sat right next to mine. We sat together while I sung and he listened. His dad looked on from the back of the room and gave me a quick smile. It was a small gesture, but it was grand in my eyes as I felt connected to not only him, but the other pediatric patients despite our language barrier.

Now that I have been on a medical mission, my nursing career will never be the same. I am grateful for the opportunity I was given to go help others, but I know I am blessed because of what the people of Guatemala gave me. It’s hard to put into words, but I feel like they gave me more than I gave them. They gave me a deep happiness as well as an appreciation for what I have. Their graciousness and spirit will never be forgotten, and I am thankful for all that they taught me about family, love and perseverance. I know that I will not be able to have this be a one-time event—I am hooked and can’t wait to go back as soon as I can. I will for now on, incorporate medical missions into my future planning.

Jo's Nurse Week 2!

Here I am four days into my first nursing mission, and it is funny to think how far I have already come in the past few days. I was VERY nervous for this trip, which is strange because it is not my first time traveling, and I have even been to Central America before. I was more anxious to participate in this nursing mission experience than any of my military training (Basic Training, Air Assault School, training in El Salvador, Marathons, etc.), and before I arrived I could not place why I was feeling such strong feelings.

After some reflection, I realized that  I was worried that I would not be good enough, not know enough, and not be able to help the people here in the way that I really wished I could. As a new nurse, I still have insecurities about my knowledge, experience, and lack of clinical practice. HOWEVER, lucky for me I am joined in this experience with three other wonderful nurses.I am so grateful for all of the support that JP, Sandie, and Sandy have provided during this trip. Within the first day of meeting everyone it was hard to even remember why I felt so nervous.This experience has a strange sensation of moving by so fast, and yet, I feel like I have been here for a very long time.

Although our first few clinic days started off slow (Easter week is a National holiday), some patients came in and we were able to provide care. I really appreciated how much we all worked as a team and how each nurse supported the other. JP really harped on how important education is for the success and future of the community; we should see each interaction as an opportunity to teach, not only about the presenting problem, but about general health promotion. Education and prevention is the key to health in this community, at home, and all over the world. In addition to providing care for bacterial infections, fungal infections, etc, we provided education on proper hydration, body mechanics, nutrition, and much more. I was so touched by people´s gratitude for us being here and the services we provided. The people have made me feel so welcome, despite my broken Spanish and at times quiet demeanor. It is hard to explain how wonderful, passionate, and strong the people of this community are.

As I was walking down the hill from the clinic yesterday,I saw a small girl playing with a broom and sweeping a tree. Although this image may seem silly or insignificant; seeing this made me smile. I remember seeing a photo of me, at around the same age doing the exact same thing. I feel so grateful for the fortunate circumstances that I was raised in, it really just seems like luck for being born into the life I was brought up in, not having to worry about food, or if I could go to the doctors, or if I could afford to go to High School. This experience has significantly contributed to my passion for the career that I am choosing to enter. I am so excited to start working as an Army Nurse next month, and to finally gain the clinical experience, skill and knowledge that I so strongly crave. This experience has truly been both life changing and career changing. I feel a strong pull to work in underserved communities, whether they are at home or abroad. I know that I will return to Central America as a nurse; next time with experience under my belt, and a lot better Spanish. Until then, I will remember this truly amazing experience, and the wonderful people that I have met and learned from along the way

-Kristen

Join our movement to put more nurse into the world!

 So, you have always wanted to go on a medical mission?  

      Here's your chance!  Jo's Nurses are at it again. 

JP Denham, one of our 4 nurses from 2013 will be the mentor this trip.  

Location:  Ixcanaan Clinic in El Remate, Guatemala (fly into Flores)

Dates:  2 nurses arrive April 12 and depart April 19

            2 nurses arrive April 16 and depart April 23

(yes, there is an overlap of 2 days so the outgoing team can help orient the incoming team).

The teams will be working in the clinic, at local hospitals and in the community.

Goal of the trip is to support nurses to a successful first of many missions.  Join our movement to put more nurse into the world!

Requirements:

1.  Complete the online application under the Scholarship tab: http://onenurseatatime.org/scholarship/ (there is no application fee).  

2.  Have 2 references complete the online reference forms.

3.  Spanish language is highly recommended, but lack of language will not exclude a candidate.  

4.  Active RN license.

5.  Nurse will pay half of the flight from home city to Guatemala City.  One Nurse At A Time will pay half, round trip from Guatemala City to Flores, and all in country transportation, food and housing.  Gifts, incidentals and travel expenses outside the mission are the responsibility of the nurse.

6.  Nurse makes a moral commitment to do another volunteer trip (anywhere in the world) by the end of 2015.

7.  Nurse should prepare for 1-2 days of travel to and from.

8.  Journalling, sharing experiences with teammates and friends/family/coworkers/media at home, sharing pictures and trip report with One Nurse At A Time, participating in interviews as invited.

9.  Assist with fundraising or other means of support for the Jo's Nurses program.

Deadline to apply is February 28, 2014.  

Global Health Immersion in Guatemala with Tiffany Lai

I am completely inspired and motivated from this medical journey to continually provide the best care for my patients. I am so thankful for the generosity and kindness that One Nurse At A Time has shown me by helping to support my decision to give back to the underserved communities in Guatemala.

I volunteered with Concern America within their Global Health Immersion program as a nurse practitioner to the region of Peten in Guatemala. While in Peten, I worked at a clinic in the small community of Las Cruces alongside local health promoters seeing patients in a family primary care setting. Every morning, we walked up to the clinic where we would find 20-30+ patients lined up outside the clinic from the early morning hours waiting to be evaluated for their health problems. It was overwhelming to physically see the immense need for primary care. It was humbling to see the health promoter role in action; due to lack of resources and health providers in the area, health promoters are community members

elected to go through limited sufficient training to become the local health provider for their community. Together alongside a promotor, we treated patients for a myriad of health conditions ranging from diabetes, hypertension, farming accidents, hydronephrosis, liver failure, to pre-mature infants with failure to thrive. I also had the opportunity to participate in the teaching for the first course for a new health promoter. It was so incredible to see the training of a new health promoter, and their journey from defining and understanding their newly elected vital role in society, to learning how to take vital signs. 

One of my favorite experiences was teaching new health promoters how to take a blood pressure. I also had the rare opportunity to participate in the “charlas”, or public health discussions with children within the classroom. This particular day, I participated in the teaching of children on how to prevent worms and parasites, as this is a common complaint of childhood in Peten.

The experience and memories of living and learning from a local health promoter as well as treating patients who do not often have access to health care, is what will stay with me. I feel that this trip has enriched my life, and I am so fortunate to have had this opportunity to provide my nursing and provider skills to these communities. I now have an even greater appreciation for different cultures and beliefs as well.

Thank you One Nurse at A Time and Barco’s Nightingales for supporting my journey to Guatemala. This has been an amazing journey that will remain with me for a lifetime. 

Seeking Two OR Nurses for Project H.A.N.D.S Trip - November

Project H.A.N.D.S is seeking volunteers for a surgical trip in November 2013 in rural Guatemala. Applications are now being accepted.

Here is a little about the mission and about Project H.A.N.D.S.

Project H.A.N.D.S. is a group of people who want to do our part to help rebalance the scales. Our goal is to provide healthcare, education and support to those who, by chance of birth, have less fortunate lives than our own. We are a Canadian-based, registered non-profit organization working amongst the indigenous Maya in the rural regions of Guatemala. We have no religious affiliation.

What and When:
Project H.A.N.D.S is seeking 2 OR nurses to complete the November 6-17th 2013 team, the goal of the trip is to complete 50-60 general and gynecology surgeries.

Location:
The team will be working in Salud y Paz Clinic which is located in the small town of Camanchaj, about 30 minutes from Chichicastenango. The patients served are those who live in rural areas, most of them in extreme poverty, on less than $1 a day. Over half suffer from chronic malnutrition. Poor sanitation and lack of electricity and running water and open cooking fires are typical of their homes and lifestyles. Very large families are common and most births are unattended by medical personnel.

Here is the trip schedule:
Wednesday, November 6: Travel to Guatemala and drive 45 minutes to Antigua
Thursday, November 7: Free day to enjoy Antigua’s myriad historic sites, markets and restaurants

Friday, November 8: Drive 3 hours to Camanchaj, set up clinic, then drive to hotel in Chichicastenango
Saturday, November 9: Triage patients
Sunday, November 10 – Friday, November 15: Surgery
Saturday, November 16: Return to Antigua for overnight
Sunday, November 17: Travel home

The Team:
The team consists of a team leader, a medical director (anesthesiologist), 2 surgeons, a surgical assistant, 2 anesthesiologists, 5 OR nurses, 8 PAR/post-op ward nurses, a sterile processing technician, a sterile processing assistant, 2 Spanish interpreters, 1 administration and 3 kitchen crew.

The cost of the trip is estimated at: 
Airfare: CA$1100 (budgeted cost from Vancouver)

Participant contribution: CA$700 (covers accommodations for 10 nights, ground transportation and food). Not covered: food in Antigua (2 days), expenses of a personal nature, extra nights in Antigua, single supplement if desired.

For more information please click here: www.projecthands.org.

If you would like to be considered for a spot on the team please contact:
Debbie Jefkin-Elnekave
Project H.A.N.D.S Recruiting Officer
808-214-6053
debbie@projecthands.org

Thanks!!

ONAAT CREW

Kayla Swanson in Guatemala

As I reflect on my mission trip with HELPS International to HueHuetenango, Guatemala.  I go over in my head the lives we impacted in the short time we were there.  Not only the people in the community but the volunteers are changed forever.

We arrived with a medical team and a stove team.  The medical team which I was part of consisted of 2 general surgeons, 2 plastic surgeons, 1 ENT surgeon, and 1 OB/GYN surgeon.  We opened 4 operating rooms and were able to do 136 surgeries in the 5 days we were operational.  We also had a general clinic which consisted of 2 pediatricians, 1 nurse practioner,  and 2 family practice physicians.  This clinic saw a little over 650 patients in 5 days.  There was also a dental team with 2 dentists that saw a little over 200 patients.

This trip also had a stove team which went into homes and installed cooking stoves which are vented to the outside and use wood more efficiently then the open fires the people have been using for decades.  The hope here is to reduce the number of burns that are suffered from cooking over a open fire and also ease some respiratory conditions they have from the soot that accumulates in their small homes.

I realize that my contribution is minimal but the rewards the people of Guatemala have given me will last for a lifetime.  I feel that the trip has helped me to realize that you don't need material things to be happy or successful in your life.  I was struck by how happy and joyfull these people were in their lives without all the trappings of gadgets and other things that complicate our everyday lives.  My hope is that by setting an example and volunteering these people will see that they are important and they will in turn find some way to give back to others in their community.

Thank you, One Nurse at A Time for this valuable opportunity to give back.  

Kayla Swanson RN

Excellent article- "Medical Missions - Nursing for a Cause"

Last month Sue was featured on the web based site "Health Callings, Jobs that Matter". Linda Childers wrote up a quick little article about Sue's first start into the medical mission world and why she and Stacie started One Nurse At A Time. 

Some of the best lines out of the interview are from Sue's version of how volunteering adds to your resume...read on:

“Serving on a medical mission will make you a more well-rounded nurse,” Averill says. “You care for many patients who have never received formal medical care and may have walked for days to receive treatment. They are all so grateful for the services provided to them."

“Serving on a medical mission offers nurses a life-changing and career-changing experience,” Averill says. “You’re working in an environment where you have to problem solve and think quickly on your feet.”

Today Sue is off in Guatemala with our first Jo's Nurses Mission. These nurses are taking full advantage of Sue's medical knowledge as a 20+ year nurse and as an experienced volunteer nurse. When they return, we hope to share their experiences with you. 

Best lines from the article by far:

Once nurses serve on a medical mission, Averill says they are typically hooked.

“I think we often forget how much teaching we do in our daily nursing jobs and how much we truly have to share with others,” she says. “On a medical mission, you are able to share your talents and skills with patients in need as well as with colleagues from all over the world. You not only change the lives of many patients and their families; you will be changed as well.”

If you would like to read the full article- please click HERE

As always, thanks!

ONAAT

Jo's Nurses - First One Nurse At A Time Mission

We now have a firm plan for a trip in February 2013 and would like to hear from you of your interest.

There is space for 4 nurses - 2 from Feb 16-23 and 2 from Feb 23 - Mar 2.

Location:  Guatemala.  First week will be working in villages around Rio Dulce in the northeast.  Second week is working in villages around Monte Rico in the southwest.  Flights are in and out of Guatemala City.  I will be accompanying both weeks to be your support/mentor.

Cost to you/Commitment:  $250.  One Nurse At A Time, Jo's Nurses program will pay the rest of your trip costs (approximately $1000 per person).  You must also make a moral commitment to do another volunteer trip by the end of 2014.  Our hope is this mission will get you over the "hump" of going on a first mission, that you will be excited and eager to volunteer again somewhere around the world.

You will also be expected to attend planning meetings and packing meetings prior to the trip to get comfortable with your teammates and participate in the preparations.  At least 1 planning and 1 packing are required (unless you're out of the Seattle area, then we'll provide reading material and phone calls to bring you up to date).  Meetings are 1/5 and 1/26 0930 - noon (usually at Group Health Central) and packing is 2/2 and 2/9 0930 until finished (also at Group Health)

Organization is Guatemala Village Health.  Spanish is helpful, but not an absolute requirement as translators are available.  You'll be asked to not only be flexible and take on various tasks, but will also be asked to assume a specific role such as triage (and teaching triage techniques to the local nurses), patient education (they've done groups for patients about dehydration, back pain, headache, skin issues, for example 5-10 patients with similar issues and give out Tums, tylenol, ibuprofen, etc.)  Training of nursing staff - sharing what and how we work here in the US with the local nurses and health promoters who have much less formal training.  They see lots of diabetics, hypertension, prenatal care, malnutrition ... These will be less clinic based and more village based, and an opportunity to be with people in their home environments.

Please express your interest prior to December 15.  Send an email to OneNurseAtATime@gmail.com.  Include a brief introduction of who you are, what your nursing background is and tell us why you want to participate in this mission, how this will impact your career/life, what you anticipate your future in volunteering to be.  Tell us what you do well, what you don't.  What you bring to this mission and why you should be selected to participate.  Don't forget your contact information!  I'll follow up with each of you, conduct a phone interview and present candidates to the board of directors for a decision before the end of December.

Let me know of any questions and hope to hear from you by Dec 15.

Thanks, 
Sue

Christian Medical Mission

Today we would like to share with you another wonderful organization that is in our directory. Christian Medical Missions, Inc. (CMMI) is a 501-c-3 organization established in 1990 to provide medical, dental and eye care to the indigenous people of Central America. Every year is an adventure that involves new people in our efforts to reach out to those in need of medical and dental attention.

The first nineteen years have been busy ones. They have made 55 trips and have helped about 50,000 people in Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. They have saved some and stabilized others, relieved pain and anxiety and improved nutrition and vision, educated and been educated, and have given services to people who could never afford them. Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim...they have gone out together under the umbrella of a Christian Medical Mission to give of themselves, and in the process they have received gifts beyond imaginable, from fellow teammates, to those they serve and serve them, and ultimately from God, our Father.

In 1990, CMMI sent it's first mission team to a small hamlet on the Pan-American Highway (a gravel road only passable with off road vehicles in the wet season) known as Waucuco. The area is home to missionary priest Fr. Wally Kasuboski, a Wisconsin native working in Central America for the last 40 years. The people of the area include homesteading Panamanians looking for new opportunities on the Panamanian frontier and indigenous tribes of Kuna, Embera-Chocoe and Wounaan Indians. 

Since that time, CMMI has expanded it's medical services to Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. 

(As written from Christian Medical Mission website)

Guatemala Bound

Mary Novakoski, RN will be traveling with Cascade Medical Team and HELPS International to Solola, Guatemala June 16 - 27.   She will be part of a a team of medical professionals, support staff, and construction team providing free medical care to the Mayan people of the highlands.  On this medical mission general surgery, gynecological procedures, eye, and dental care will be provided at no cost to the Mayan people of Guatemala. Mary states, "This trip gives me the opportunity to give back to the underserved population and in return gain an invaluable experience and knowledge."


Mary Novakoski is a registered nurse who received her Associates of Applied Science from Portland Community College. Currently, she works at Hooper Detoxification and Stabilization Center in Portland, Oregon providing culturally competent care to the underserved population of the Portland- Metro area and has received several recognitions for her contributions throughout her employment as a RN. Additionally, Mary works at Kaiser Permanente in Clackamas, Oregon working in addiction medicine/mental health.  In her free time Mary takes continuing education courses, currently enrolled in a Medical Spanish for Medical Professionals to prepare for her medical mission to Guatemala.


Mary attributes her strong work ethic and compassion to help others to her grandparents who were farmers in Door County, Wisconsin. They instilled strong values which have carried over into raising her daughter as a single parent. Mary hopes to contribute her skills/knowledge gained from nursing and from her grandparents to the Mayan Indians in Guatemala and in return gain invaluable lifetime experience.

NURSE NEEDED for July Guatemala Trip!

Guatemala Village Health is looking for a nurse who would like to travel with them in July 27 - August 10, 2012.  Nurses do not need to have to have any international experience.  An RN/LPN who has some primary care experience and/or administrative experience would be great.  Flexibility is key!






Read more about Guatemala Village Health here:  http://onenurseatatime.org/directory/details/guatemala-village-health

OR/Surgical and Post Op Nurses Needed

Cascade Medical Team is in need of OR/Surgical and PACU nurses for their June Trip to Solola, Guatemala.
Trip dates are June 16-27, 2012.
Please visit their website to download the application:  www.cascademedicalteam.org

This all-volunteer team, whose participants pay their own expenses, was formed in 2002 as a means to improve the health of the Mayan people of the Guatemala highlands. The team has provided medical and dental care to more than 14,000 Guatemalan adults and children and performed more than 1000 surgeries. The team has also installed hundreds of simple energy efficient cooking stoves in Guatemalan homes, helping prevent burns and lung diseases. In 2009, the team began installing HELPS Gravity Water Filters, an inexpensive in-home purification system desperately needed in a country where most water sources are contaminated.